Hello Angels! I am sure you have all heard by now that we have adopted two new military hospitals in Southern California, Camp Pendleton and Balboa Naval Hospital. With great anticipation of this great and honorable task we have begun to supply our local group of soldiers with necessities such as underwear, socks, paints, and hygiene supplies.

Also included were phone cards, games, DVD?s and other related items. All supplies were gathered and put into welcome backpacks for the incoming soldiers. Last Friday, these packages were put together generously by our Southern California Angels headed by Kara Root and Debe Tomney. All of these Angels were fantastic personally creating each and every package as well as writing their thanks and appreciation.

Thank you for all that attended, and thank you for all of the supplies generosity donated.

Militia, Shiite leaders bicker over shrine: "NAJAF, Iraq (AP) - Militants loyal to firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr remained in control of a revered Shiite shrine at the center of the crisis in Najaf on Saturday, as they bickered with top Shiite religious leaders over how to hand the holy site over."

Confusion Over Control Of Mosque: "Militants loyal to a radical Shiite cleric were rebuffed when they tried to give the keys of the mosque at the center of the fighting in Najaf to reps of Iraq's top Shiite leader. Those reps want the militants out first. Elsewhere, two more GIs died."

Accused Hamas leader denies U.S. charges: "A senior official of the Palestinian militant group Hamas indicted in the United States for conspiring to fund terror attacks against Israel denied the accusations and said the charges were driven by election-year politics in the United States."

Militia, Shiite Leaders Bicker Over Shrine: "Militants loyal to firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr remained in control of a revered Shiite shrine at the center of the crisis in Najaf on Saturday, as they bickered with top Shiite religious leaders over how to hand the holy site over. (AP)"

Cracks May Be Forming in Cleric's Rebel Camp: "NAJAF, Iraq - Rebel cleric Muqtada Sadr's grip on Imam Ali Mosque appeared less certain late Friday after a chaotic day in which some of his fighters were captured attempting to flee this holy city and his representatives vowed to remove weapons from the shrine. (Los Angeles Times)"

Al-Sadr Fighters Hand Over Keys to Shrine: "Militants loyal to firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said Saturday that they had handed over the keys to a revered Muslim shrine in the holy city of Najaf to top Shiite religious leaders, a move that marks a crucial step toward ending two weeks of fighting. (AP)"

Accused Hamas leader denies terror charges: "A senior official of the Palestinian militant group Hamas indicted in the United States for conspiring to fund terror attacks against Israel denied the accusations and said the charges were driven by election-year politics in the United States."

Al-Sadr fighters hand over keys to shrine: "Militants loyal to firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said Saturday that they had handed over the keys to a revered Muslim shrine in the holy city of Najaf to top Shiite religious leaders, a move that marks a crucial step toward ending two weeks of fighting."

Israeli author uses slogans to write song: "The song starts sweetly, but its angry words, all quoted from bumper stickers, are an Israeli author's attempt to shock his compatriots into seeing how callous they have become."

Militia Offers to Cede Control of Shrine: "A rebel cleric's militiamen kept their guns outside a holy site Friday after issuing a surprise offer to give up control of the Imam Ali Shrine to Shiite Muslim religious leaders, but negotiators wrangled into the night over getting the militants out of the compound. (AP)"

On Tape, Abducted Reporter Says He's OK: "A U.S. journalist abducted by militants in Iraq and threatened with death said in a video aired Friday that his captors were treating him well, while an Italian journalist also was reported missing in the war-torn country. (AP)"

Journalist, Translator Kidnapped in Iraq: "A Western journalist and his Iraqi translator were kidnapped by two armed men in a busy market in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, police said Monday. (AP)"

Iraq delegates urge al-Sadr to end fight: "The deadly showdown between U.S. troops and Iraqi militants in Najaf dominated Iraq's national conference Monday, with tribal and religious leaders deciding to send 60 delegates to the holy city to persuade a radical Shiite cleric to call off his fighters."

Israel may try to break hunger strike: "Israeli jailers may try to break a Palestinian hunger strike with barbecues, hoping the aroma of grilling meat will wear down security prisoners protesting conditions and demanding more access to their families."

2 more Turkish men taken hostage in Iraq: "Armed assailants attacked a convoy of Turkish trucks delivering supplies to U.S. forces in Iraq and took two Turkish drivers hostage, their company said Monday."

Israel deports pro-Palestinian American: "An Israeli court ordered a pro-Palestinian American activist deported from the country Monday, the latest move against a foreign group opposing Israeli military activity in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip."

U.N. official urges political independence: "The United Nations should find ways to demonstrate political independence, regain the neutrality it lost after the Sept. 11 attacks and better communicate with the world's 1 billion Muslims, a top U.N. official said Monday."

Militants Give El Salvador 20 Days to Leave Iraq: "An Islamist grouphas given El Salvador 20 days to pull out troops from Iraq orit would strike inside the Central American country and againstits forces in Iraq, according to an Internet statement postedMonday. (Reuters)"

Conflict in Najaf Dominates Iraq Political Meet: "Iraqi leaders met for a second day onMonday to pick an interim national assembly but fighting inNajaf dominated the event, piling pressure on Prime MinisterIyad Allawi to hold more talks with Shi'ite rebels. (Reuters)"

Delegates Urge Al-Sadr to Leave Shrine: "U.S. tanks rolled into the Old City of Najaf toward a holy Shiite shrine where militants were hiding Monday as participants at a national conference voted to send a delegation here to try to negotiate an end to the fighting. (AP)"

Militants Give El Salvador 20 Days to Quit Iraq: "An Islamist group has given El Salvador20 days to pull out troops from Iraq or it would strike insidethe Central American country and against its forces in Iraq,according to an Internet statement posted Monday. (Reuters)"

Twenty-five heavily armed foreigners holed up inside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf have rigged it with explosives and are threatening to blow up the building if attacked, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said Sunday in a written statement.

The statement said the interim Iraqi government has ordered national guard forces not to target the mosque, and not to approach it.

Thousands in S. Korea Protest Iraq Plans: "Hundreds of protesters clashed with police Sunday near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul during a demonstration against the country's plans to send more troops to Iraq. (AP)"

Protest at Iraq Forum Reshapes Najaf Crisis: "BAGHDAD, Aug. 15 -- More than 1,100 Iraqis convened Sunday for the start of a conference aimed at selecting a national assembly, a milestone in the country's transition to democracy, but the high-security meeting was roiled by a dispute over the use of military force to confront militiamen loyal to a rebellious Shiite Muslim cleric. (washingtonpost.com)"

Israeli helicopters fire missiles in Gaza: "Palestinian prisoners launched a hunger strike Sunday, in what was shaping up to be the biggest showdown between thousands of inmates and the Israeli authorities since the outbreak of Mideast fighting in 2000."

U.S. soldiers battle Shiites in Najaf: "U.S. tanks and troops rolled back into the center of Najaf and battled with Shiite militants Sunday, reigniting violence in the holy city just as delegates in Baghdad opened a conference meant to be a landmark in the country's movement toward democracy."

Long trip home ends happily: "FORT RILEY, Kan. ? It doesn't matter that the 300 soldiers ? after traveling 38 hours and 11,000 miles from a war ? still have to march almost a mile on foot. They are breathing the brisk air of an early Kansas morning, one that smells like clean dew on grass instead of sludge from a sewer. And they already can hear the cheers."

Twenty-five heavily armed foreigners holed up inside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf have rigged it with explosives and are threatening to blow up the building if attacked, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said Sunday in a written statement.

The statement said the interim Iraqi government has ordered national guard forces not to target the mosque, and not to approach it.

Thousands in S. Korea Protest Iraq Plans: "Hundreds of protesters clashed with police Sunday near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul during a demonstration against the country's plans to send more troops to Iraq. (AP)"

Protest at Iraq Forum Reshapes Najaf Crisis: "BAGHDAD, Aug. 15 -- More than 1,100 Iraqis convened Sunday for the start of a conference aimed at selecting a national assembly, a milestone in the country's transition to democracy, but the high-security meeting was roiled by a dispute over the use of military force to confront militiamen loyal to a rebellious Shiite Muslim cleric. (washingtonpost.com)"

Israeli helicopters fire missiles in Gaza: "Palestinian prisoners launched a hunger strike Sunday, in what was shaping up to be the biggest showdown between thousands of inmates and the Israeli authorities since the outbreak of Mideast fighting in 2000."

U.S. soldiers battle Shiites in Najaf: "U.S. tanks and troops rolled back into the center of Najaf and battled with Shiite militants Sunday, reigniting violence in the holy city just as delegates in Baghdad opened a conference meant to be a landmark in the country's movement toward democracy."

Long trip home ends happily: "FORT RILEY, Kan. ? It doesn't matter that the 300 soldiers ? after traveling 38 hours and 11,000 miles from a war ? still have to march almost a mile on foot. They are breathing the brisk air of an early Kansas morning, one that smells like clean dew on grass instead of sludge from a sewer. And they already can hear the cheers."

Twenty-five heavily armed foreigners holed up inside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf have rigged it with explosives and are threatening to blow up the building if attacked, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said Sunday in a written statement.

The statement said the interim Iraqi government has ordered national guard forces not to target the mosque, and not to approach it.

Thousands in S. Korea Protest Iraq Plans: "Hundreds of protesters clashed with police Sunday near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul during a demonstration against the country's plans to send more troops to Iraq. (AP)"

Protest at Iraq Forum Reshapes Najaf Crisis: "BAGHDAD, Aug. 15 -- More than 1,100 Iraqis convened Sunday for the start of a conference aimed at selecting a national assembly, a milestone in the country's transition to democracy, but the high-security meeting was roiled by a dispute over the use of military force to confront militiamen loyal to a rebellious Shiite Muslim cleric. (washingtonpost.com)"

Israeli helicopters fire missiles in Gaza: "Palestinian prisoners launched a hunger strike Sunday, in what was shaping up to be the biggest showdown between thousands of inmates and the Israeli authorities since the outbreak of Mideast fighting in 2000."

U.S. soldiers battle Shiites in Najaf: "U.S. tanks and troops rolled back into the center of Najaf and battled with Shiite militants Sunday, reigniting violence in the holy city just as delegates in Baghdad opened a conference meant to be a landmark in the country's movement toward democracy."

Long trip home ends happily: "FORT RILEY, Kan. ? It doesn't matter that the 300 soldiers ? after traveling 38 hours and 11,000 miles from a war ? still have to march almost a mile on foot. They are breathing the brisk air of an early Kansas morning, one that smells like clean dew on grass instead of sludge from a sewer. And they already can hear the cheers."

New Clashes May Loom As Najaf Talks Fail: "Negotiations to end the fighting in Najaf broke down Saturday, threatening to spark a resurgence of the fierce clashes between Shiite militants and a combined U.S.-Iraqi force that have plagued this holy city for more than a week. (AP)"

Ukrainian Soldier Killed by Iraq Land Mine: "A Ukrainian soldier was killed Sunday in a land mine explosion southeast of Baghdad, a spokesman for the multinational forces said. The blast occurred n the area of Suwayrah, 25 miles south of Baghdad, in the Ukrainian troops' area of responsibility. (AP)"

Slaughter as US attacks Najaf: "AT LEAST 165 people were killed and more than 600 wounded in heavy fighting across Iraq over the past 24 hours as US marines moved to wipe out Moqtada al-Sadr's militia forces in the holy city of Najaf. As US tanks, armoured vehicles and helicopter gunships attacked the radical cleric's Mehdi Army, the rebels fired mortar rounds from the courtyard of the Imam Ali mosque, one of the holiest Shi'ite sites."

New clashes may loom as Najaf talks fail: "Negotiations to end the fighting in Najaf broke down Saturday, threatening to spark a resurgence of the fierce clashes between Shiite militants and a combined U.S.-Iraqi force that have plagued this holy city for more than a week."

Impasse in Najaf May Spark More Clashes: "Negotiations to end the fighting in Najaf broke down Saturday, threatening to spark a resurgence of the fierce clashes between Shiite militants and a combined U.S.-Iraqi force that have plagued this holy city for more than a week. (AP)"

Ambush in Ramadi: "On April 6, a company of Marines on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq, was ambushed. Ten died that night and two more in the days that followed. These are their stories, as told by their families, friends, girlfriends, teachers and ministers."

Impasse could lead to violence in Najaf: "NAJAF, Iraq (AP) - Negotiations to end the fighting in Najaf broke down Saturday, threatening to spark a resurgence of the fierce clashes between Shiite militants and a combined U.S.-Iraqi force that have plagued this holy city for more than a week."

"We're coming with a mighty force to end the reign of your
oppressors," Bush said, addressing Iraqis who might be
listening from afar. "We are coming to bring you food and
medicine and a better life. And we are coming and we will
not stop, we will not relent until your country is free."
We are very proud of you,Keep your helmet on!

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